And Alexander said: If I were not myself I would be you....

When Falkenberg had finished and came out, he was grown so elegant in his
manners all at once, and talked in such a delicate fashion, I could hardly
understand him. The daughter of the house came out with him. We were to
pass on without delay, he said, to the farm adjacent; there was a piano
there which needed some slight attention. And so _"Farvel, Froken,
Farvel."_

"Six Kroner, my boy," he whispered in my ear. "And another six at the next
place, that's twelve."

So off we went, and I carried our things.




XIV


Falkenberg was right; the people at the next farm would not be outdone by
their neighbours; their piano must be seen to as well. The daughter of the
house was away for the moment, but the work could be done in her absence
as a little surprise for her when she came home. She had often complained
that the piano was so dreadfully out of tune it was impossible to play on
it at all. So now I was left to myself again as before, while Falkenberg
was busy in the parlour. When it got dark he had lights brought in and
went on tuning. He had his supper in there too, and when he had finished,
he came out and asked me for his pipe.